Matt De Ferranti Makes Economic Growth Priority In Arlington County Board Bid

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Board member Matt de Ferranti says strengthening Arlington’s economy while maintaining support for residents facing financial pressures would be his top priority if voters return him to the board.

“Inclusive economic growth would be my top priority next year,” de Ferranti said in response to Patch’s candidate questionnaire. He said success would include improving the county’s fiscal position while continuing to invest in programs that help Arlington residents.

De Ferranti said his approach would include converting obsolete office buildings to housing, expanding access to child care and increasing funding for the county’s Affordable Housing Investment Fund. On residential zoning, he said he supports duplexes and some smaller multifamily buildings when they remain within size and other limits comparable to single-family homes, but does not support allowing seven- or eight-unit buildings by right in residential neighborhoods.

De Ferranti, 53, is an attorney and advocate for economic and educational equity who has served on the County Board for the past 7½ years. He holds law and public administration degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and has been endorsed by the Arlington Democrats.

De Ferranti is seeking re-election against Audrey Clement and David Sisson in the Nov. 3 general election. Arlington will use ranked-choice voting in the County Board race.

Patch invited the candidates to share their backgrounds, priorities and views on issues facing Arlington through its campaign questionnaire. De Ferranti’s responses follow below.

Name: Matt de Ferranti

Position sought: County Board

Age (as of Nov. 3, 2026): 53

Campaign Website: www.mattforarlington.com

Have you been endorsed by a political party? If so, which one? If none, please say so.

Arlington Democrats

Family:

I am married to my wife, Brooke, and we have two children.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? This includes any relatives who work in the government you're a candidate in.

No.

Education:

JD and MPA from the University of Texas at Austin

Occupation:

Attorney and Advocate for Economic and Educational Equity

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Political Office:

County Board Member for the last 7.5 years.

Why are you running for Arlington County Board?

I am seeking re-election to help meet the difficult moment we face by adapting our economy and preserving our shared commitment to opportunity for all Arlingtonians.

What would be your top priority in your first year on the County Board, and what would success look like?

Inclusive economic growth would be my top priority next year. Success would be progress on our fiscal condition so that next year's budget and the year after that are slightly easier and continued investment in our safety net to help Arlingtonians make it through this administration's threat to our well-being.

What distinguishes your approach to governing from that of the other candidates?

I believe that I both have values that reflect Arlington's best and that I continue to follow the facts as circumstances change. For example, both immigration policy and FLOC cameras have changed significantly over the past two years under the Trump Administration. I have worked to change local policy in response to these changes.

Housing supply and zoning: As Arlington considers its next housing policies in 2026, what changes, if any, would you support to allow a wider range of homes in residential neighborhoods, such as duplexes and smaller multifamily buildings? Explain the benefits and drawbacks that would guide your position.

We must invest in a homeownership program that does not subsidize homeownership, but does make it easier to achieve. I support duplexes in residential neighborhoods as long as they are in the same size or smaller buildings as allowed for single-family homes. I also support triplexes and up to 6 units--as long as such homes are the same size or smaller than single-family homes, and they are traffic safety precautions and a limited number of other by-right protections that are analogous to single family homes. I did not and do not support 7-8 plexes in residential neighborhoods by right because I believe traffic concerns are too great to make such residential units sustainable by right. The benefit of this position is that it recognizes that the economic ladder is not working for the next generations of homeowners. I understand that the concern is that smaller homes are being replaced, but believe that over time the preservation of homes requires investment and that the rate of increase in the price of homes must slow.

Affordable housing funding: Would you increase, maintain or reduce county funding for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, and why? How would you divide limited resources among preserving existing affordable homes, building new ones and helping households with the lowest incomes? Identify a funding source or budget tradeoff and a measurable result you would seek during your term.

I would increase funding for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund (AHIF). Doing so is the best way to help us sustain and increase the number of affordable rental units in the County so that our teachers, first responders, servers, nurses, moderate and low income workers, and public servants, both federal and local can have a better chance to live here. I am open to bonding for more AHIF funding--I believe doing so is consistent with our ideals and part of the solution going forward. We need to both invest in preservation and in some cased redevelopment of existing land and also new units. The precise balance between the two will depend on a study the County is undertaking now to assess our ongoing commitments to AHIF units, which are known as COmmitted Affordable Units. I would like to see us stabilize the percentage of affordable units we have in the County with the 17.7% figure in the Affordable Housing Master Plan an aspirational goal, but at least more than 13% a stabilization proportion. I do think we need to invest more in 30% and below income units and worked to make that happen in the past. More such investment will require a stronger funding mechanism.

Redevelopment and displacement: As Arlington considers how older apartment properties can be renovated or redeveloped, what protections or incentives, if any, would you support to help existing tenants remain in the community? Explain how you would balance preserving lower-cost homes, improving housing conditions and making projects financially feasible.

The County has a Tenant Relocation Plan for all units that have County investment. We should remain committed to that Plan so that all who have to leave a particular building when it is redeveloped can come back to a newly built or renovated unit. We factor the costs of doing so into our AHIF funding and should continue to do so. Barcroft Apartments is one example where redeveloped units are limited to 3% increase per year. That is a reasonable target that took County funding and private sector investment to help make happen. We will need both Bond funding for AHIF and private sector investment to stay the course on tenant relocation, which we absolutely should.

Development and public benefits: For proposals along corridors such as Langston Boulevard and Columbia Pike, when would you support additional building height or density, and when would you oppose it? Explain what affordable housing commitments and infrastructure improvements you would seek, how costs should be shared, and how residents and small businesses should help shape the decision.

On Langston Boulevard, I have supported the plan through three projects over the past year. One is for affordable housing--Leckey Gardens and two are for market rate housing. In so doing, I have supported height consistent with the Plan, but not density for its own sake. Height and density outside the plan should not be supported and I would not do so. On Columbia Pike, we have a different type of plan, Form Based Code, that we may want to revisit over time. How we grow matters. We should not grow for its own sake. We also must recognize that change is inevitable and to thrive economically we must change. The key to the balance at the moment is the changing of obsolete office buildings into residential apartments or condos. We have had success with this over the past year and must continue it to adapt our economy to the post-COVID reality of less office.

Everyday affordability: Beyond housing, which costs would you prioritize addressing to make it easier for people to live and work in Arlington, such as child care, transportation, utilities or county taxes and fees? Identify two specific actions within the County Board's authority, who would benefit, and how you would pay for them or offset any lost revenue while maintaining essential services.

We should expand access to childcare. To do so, I think we need to make some adjustments to our real estate tax relief program with respect to assets allowed under it. The asset limit should be decreased from $500K to $250K. The income limit should be $100K where it is above $100K now. That would result in savings of $1 million or slightly more on an annual basis that we should invest in affordable childcare. On utilities, we have intervened in the Dominion marger and we should market efforts to do solar on more homes. On transportation, we should institute a small delivery fee to help pay for Metro infrastructure. On County taxes and fees, we have lower rates than Falls Church, Alexandria, and Fairfax, but higher assessments. To keep both low, we need to convert office buildings to apartments.

Public safety: What are Arlington's most pressing public safety needs, and what evidence informs your assessment? Identify two actions you would pursue through the County Board's budget or policy decisions. Explain how you would balance policing and emergency response with prevention and behavioral health services, maintain accountability and community trust, and measure whether residents are safer.

Currently, immigration is one of our biggest challengs. This Administration's policies are rooted in fear and are making us less safe. We must do all we can, within the law, to keep our immigrant families safe. That means our police must help keep the peace, within the law, when ICE or our community inform us of ICE's presence. We also must invest in our police department, which we did this past year with a $5 million ongoing investment to increase salaries. We are and should build the VHC facility for mental health and substance abuse needs. It will be built of Carlin Springs Road. Our crime rate is one of the lowest in Virginia and went down last year. We must continue to look to it for data. We must invest in diversion where able and appropriate to save money and keep the number of individuals at the jail, down.

What important issue has this questionnaire not addressed, and what would you do about it?

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time along with income inequality. It is also an affordability issue. I will continue to prioritize getting us to 100% renewal electricity by 2035. Our schools also require investment. I will advocate for additional funding from the state to help us increase our professional educators compensation.

Describe one accomplishment from your professional, civic or public service experience that demonstrates your ability to serve on the County Board. What was your role, and what was the result?

We lost two teenagers to fentanyl over the last four years. Our community asked that we invest in after school funding. I took the lead and helped secure funding to expand and create programs at schools with higher percentages of low and moderate income households. I believe that without my leadership the expansions would not have happened. I think this indicates both my heart, and my follow through and that I am effective in expanding opportunity for all Arlingtonians.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Listen. Work hard. Be nice.

What personal experience or connection to Arlington would you like voters to know about that you have not already shared?

I have two young children. I believe that, on balance, having them is a net benefit to my public service. They help me understand the fierce urgency of the moment. Time is precious and I wanted to leave a committed life behind that helps make a real difference to and for our community.

Also See ...

• Early Voting Begins For 2026 Election: What's On The Ballot In Arlington
• Audrey Clement Makes Housing, Zoning Reform Top Priority In Arlington County Board Bid